counterfactual

[ koun-ter-fak-choo-uhl ]

noun

, Logic.

1. a conditional statement the first clause of which expresses something contrary to fact, as “If I had known.”

counterfactual

/ ˌkauntəˈfæktʃʊəl /

adjective

1. expressing what has not happened but could, would, or might under differing conditions

noun

1. a conditional statement in which the first clause is a past tense subjunctive statement expressing something contrary to fact, as in

   if she had hurried she would have caught the bus

Other Words From

• counter·fact noun
• counter·factu·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of counterfactual¹

First recorded in 1945–50; counter- + factual

Example Sentences

Contemporary physics, she argues, does not take into account counterfactuals and this “is getting in the way of progress.”

From Nautilus

The laws of physics, expressed as counterfactuals, offer a chance for improvement.

From Nautilus

To further grasp the importance of counterfactual properties, and their difference from actual properties, imagine a computer programmed to produce on its display a string of zeroes.

From Nautilus

A common thread across these examples is counterfactual information generation.

From Nautilus

With counterfactual information, AIs would be able to imagine possible futures on their own.

From Nautilus

Psychologists call this awareness of what might have been “counterfactual thinking.”

From The Daily Beast

For anyone who ever thought it was glamorous to die young, Reed was the counterintuitive counterfactual.

From The Daily Beast

His counterfactual musings don't provide any practicable, coherent or implementable alternatives.

From The Daily Beast

But let's consider a counterfactual: Republicans double down.

From The Daily Beast

It will depend upon the counterfactual—who is the other person.

From The Daily Beast